Draft-rigging.



G: Ll- DRAFT mama.

APPUCA'TION FILED FEB. 3, 1912- v v 1,166,906. Patented Jan. '4, 1916.

G. L. HARVEY; DRAFT. meme. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1912.

- Patented Ja11.4,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. QMIRUQTJOW 7%? 45 -yoke shall have eferably integral therepurine s rarns PATENT orrion.

GEORGE LYON HARVEY, OF CHICAGO, rumors.

' DRAFT-RIGGING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 3, 1912. Serial No. 675,228.

present in use are composed of an unnecessarily large numberof parts and are weak in many particulars. The reason for this is found mainly in the lack of space within which to install a high capacity gear and the limitation as to draw-bar travel.

It has been my principal object to so construct my draftrigging that the parts may;

be few and comparatively heavy in construction without unnecessary added weight, at

I the same time utilizing the space allowed for such devices.

It has heretofore been suggested that in order to increase the cushioning capacity a plurality of springs be employed. Inasmuch as the space between the center or draft sills is limited these springs have sometimes been placed in tandem andsometimes sidefloy side. However, when placed side by side horizontally, smallsprings must be used; it has also been suggested that large 'springs'be used and placed side by side in a vertical direction, and it is to this latter type of gear that my improvement is specially directed. v In theclaims I have referred to the springs as cushions made in any preferred form. I

.- One of the principal objects of my invention is to construct a draft rigging having a yoke adapted for attachment to a cou-' pler shank by means of a key andwhich with the rear follower, usually made. separate, and a guide adapted to hold the gear in proper position without additional holding means.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel casting which shall bridge the space between the draft sills securely tying them together and having an'opening within which the guide heretofore referred to may be accommodated. V

Patented lan. 4.,1916.

A further object is the provision of keys both above and below the plane of the yoke, which keys act as stops or abutments taking the place of the ordinary abutments formed on the cheek plates ordinarily riveted to the draft sills. These keys last referred to. are

provided with reduced ends in order that I the-springs may be given their initial com-' pression after being; located between the sills. 1

--Other and more particular objects will be described hereinafter andv pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accZ'Iupanying drawings, wherein, I

Figure 1 is a side elevation pa tly section showing a draft gear constructed in accordancewith my inyention; Fig. 2- is a plan view partl in section; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3- -3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line '44 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that between the draft sills 10, of a railroad car, I mount a substantial tie-block. This member is pref-.

erably formed of cast steel and is composed of top and bottom walls 11, side walls '12,

and end walls '13. The end opposite that which is closed by the wall 13 is open. The

Wall 13 is pierced by a rectangular opening 14 having too and bottom" strengthening flanges 15 and further strehgtheningribs 16. The casting is securedfto the sills 10 by means of suitable fastening means such as rivets 17. Forward. of the) casting just described and attached one t each sill, is .a

pair of reinforcing casting formed with a body portion 18 and a surro riding strengthening flange 19. A notch 2 provides a seat for a. key later to be descri ed and a perforation 21 provides a seat for a furtherkey.

At or near the center of the casting I fc irman elongated slot 22, registeringwith a slot 23 of' similar form in the draft sills 10.. These castings just described are securely riveted to the draft sills.

'A coupler 24 is held in place by meansof provided with a slot 26in which a key 27 may be inserted The yoke contemplated by me is preferably ,eomposed of a casting, the a aaendseebeing rovid d .w' tliyelpm carry-iron 25 and the shank of the coupleris I prcssion.

passed. This yoke has an end wall which is extended vertically as at 31 to serve as a follower and provide a seat for'cushion elements 32 Preferably also I cast with the end wall bosses 33, which shall serve as a spring centering and retaining means. Centrally of the end wall 30 of the yoke and projecting at right angles therefrom is a guide and draft rigging support as best shown in l igs. 1, 3 and This member has a flat bearing portion 34, and a centrally arranged reinforcing rib It will be seen that when the parts are in place the guide permits the reciprocation of the yoke without the possibility of its dislodgment through the failure.

of bolts and nuts. The forward ends of the cushions 32 are seated against the follower 36. this follower abutting against keys 37, 3S, seated respectively in slots 20, 21, formed. in theside of the casting and draft sills. These keys, as shown in Fig. 2, are reduced at their ends by reason of which the cushions may be given initial compression after being placed.

it will be noted that in my construction the yoke is under strain only during pulling and that under butting strain the yoke is inactive except, of course, that its rear Wall forms the seat for the cushion. Vhen the limitof compression has been reached the strain is transferred from the cushions to the key 27, thence to the sills. Thus in buffing none of the shocks are received by the side arms of the yoke.

It will also'be noted that by my arrangement 1 have provided under extreme pulling strain for the resistance of three keys whereas in the butting I have the resistance of one key and an extremely rigid stop casting which bridges and ties together the draft sills.

In assei'nbling, the springs, front follower and yoke may be placed between the sills, the guide member 34 being caused to register with the opening l 'l, then forced rearwardly until the rear of the yoke abuts the casting. (he keys 37, 38 are then driven into place thus putting the cushions under initial com- The draw-bar is then located and the large key 27 driven home. It will be understood. of course, that the keys described have suitable retaining devices such'as the 1,1se,eoe

cotters 39 or bolts 40. It will be seen that by this arrangement the draw-bar may be re moved at any time without disturbing the draft rigging. Thereafter, of course, if desired, the draft rigging may be removed by removing the key 38 and forcing the yoke forward or until the guide 34 is free of the stop casting.

It will be obvious that by the construction described I secure a draft rigging having a minimum number of parts, one which is of strong and durable construction and which may be readily remoyed if desired. A par ticular advantage is that even if the drawbar key 27 should become lost or broken, the draft rigging could not fall.

It will also be obvious that while it have shown my key stops or abutments as passing through the sills of the car, they; might be advantageously arranged in connection withseparate draft or sub'sills in cars requiring such construction.

It is further obvious that modifications in the exact construction herein shown and described may be made, all Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a draft rigging, the combination with a draw-bar and yoke, of means for operatively connecting the draw-bar and yoke, a follower, and endwise movable follower stops comprising keys arranged transversely of the draw bar and above and below the shank thereof and engaging the draft mem bers. substantially as described.

2. In a draft rigging, a pair of members secured to and having portions projecting below the sills and a transverse abutment supported at each end in the under-hung portio-ns of said members, said abutment acting as a stop for a draft rigging fr'ont follower, substantially as described.

3. In a draft gear, the combination of a horizontal yo-ke. a front follower slidably mounted in said yoke, and a pair of front stops in the form of removable keys, one positioned above and the other below said horizontal yoke, substantially as described.

GEORGE LYON HARVEY. Witnesses Cnas. J. MURRAY, T. D. BUTLER. 

